Fine Gael councillor Gerry Breen has tonight been elected the new lord mayor of Dublin.
Speaking after his election, Cllr Breen said jobs would be his priority in office. “I am determined that all my actions as lord mayor over the course of the year ahead will be fully focused on aiding and abetting job creation,” he said.
The new mayor indicated that this Wednesday he would set out the detail of a partnership plan he has been working on with the Dublin City Enterprise Board.
Cllr Breen said he would be operating an "open door" policy for citizens at the Mansion House. “We are public servants and we serve the people. Every Wednesday, from 8am to 10am I will have an open door for the citizens of Dublin when I will make myself available to listen to suggestions or complaints members of the public may have,” he said.
The mayor also wants Dublin City Council to pursue new technology opportunities more aggressively, has declared a "Plain English" campaign will be "the order of the day” and is aiming to turn the area of Parnell Street East into Dublin’s Chinatown.
Born and raised in Clontarf, Cllr Breen is married with three daughters. He was first elected to Dublin City Council in 1999.
In Limerick, Maria Byrne, also a Fine Gael councillor, was elected Limerick’s fourth female mayor this evening. She follows in the footsteps of her father Bobby Byrne who served two terms as the city’s first citizen.
It is the first time a father and daughter have both served as mayor of Limerick.